The newest Ubuntu just came out and here we have the Raring Ringtail VMware image for you. This image has the slowness of the Ubuntu 12.10 image inherited. If you want a really swift VMware Ubuntu image or know how to speed up this one, see below what your options are.

One interesting alternative is the much faster Ubuntu 12.04 LTS image with VM Tools. It has the VMware Tools already on board and enjoys also the long-term support of Ubuntu. Otherwise it starts with the same desktop environment named Unity as the current Ubuntu.

Unity is similar to Gnome 3. It lacks a hierarchical start menu and a task bar. For most people this seems to be a major drawback. Users now have to enter the beginning of the name of an application into the dash to search for it and then run it.

But there is more to it...

For instance, if you want to start Brasero the disk burner, and you enter 'bra' into the search pane of the dash to actually get a link to it, the new and shiny Ubuntu will additionally present you many fine ads, contextually, of course. You would have to change the privacy settings to try it -- we disabled this sort of efficient computer work by default.

If you like the old-fashioned way of being able to actually use and control your computer, we have the following recommendations for you:

Lubuntu 13.04 image with VMware Tools: This VMware image is the direct replacement for a lame current Ubuntu image. It is also Ubuntu, but with the fast LXDE desktop and a different inner structure that circumvents the reason why current Ubuntu VMware images are so slow.

Linux Mint 14 image with VMware Tools: Linux Mint comes with a variety of desktops and this version uses the Cinnamon desktop developed by the Mint team. Linux Mint is a nice descendant of Ubuntu with media codecs and other addons preinstalled. Mint VMware images are probably the most complete ones!

So, both of the above are much faster, especially the Lubuntu image, and both feature a "normal" and useable desktop. They are simply the better choice. But if you want or must use the latest standard VMware Ubuntu image, here are two tuning tips:

Install the CompizConfig Settings Manager with the Ubuntu Software Center. Better usable is the standard package loader Synaptics that does the same, but more straightforward. But you would have to install that one, too. So, one fight with this stupid Ubuntu Software Center has to be won anyway.

When you finally have managed to install the CompizConfig Settings Man, start it, select Effects, and disable Animations and Fading Windows. This alone takes an astonishingly long time. So, better do it one by one, or the system will appear unresponsive.

Make sure that you have increased the processor number of the VM image to the one that matches the core number of your physical hardware.

These tuning methods will have only a limited effect and will not completely compensate Ubuntu's current sluggishness running as a virtual system. But they may assure that your guest applications work more reliable and your patience gets not overly taxed.